Ornamental fence.



PATENTED MAY 21, 1907.

J. FOBSI'BR. .ORNAMENTAL FENCE. 'APPLIOATIOH FILED OUT. 24, 1906.

INVENTOH Job 21 Forster W/ 7"NE SSE S ATTORNEYS "It norms IITIRS co.,WASHINGTON, la. 0.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFTU ORNAMENTAL FENCE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 21, 1907.

Application filed October 24, 1906. Serial No. 340.293.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, J oI-IN FoRsTER, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of Los Angeles, in the county of LosAngeles and State ofCalifornia, have invented a new and Improved Ornamental Fence, of whichthe following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to a new and improved ornamental fence, which isat the same time very strong and easily constructed. It involves the useof a small'amount of lumber, therefore making it economical ofconstruction, and'the parts may be all cut out by machinery and sold ina detached form to the person desiring to use the same, for the partsmay be so easily assembled that a skilled workman is not necessary.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming apart ofthis specification, in which similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures, in which Figure 1 is a sideelevation of a section of my improved fence; Fig. 2 is a vertical crosssection thereof; Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section of a portionof the fence Fig. 4 is a vertical section through the corner post; andFig. 5 is an inverted plan view of the corner post and a portion of thefence.

The main body of the fence comprises a plurality of vertical posts 1 ofconsiderably greater depth than width and narrower at the top than atthe bottom. These posts are provided with lateral grooves 2 across theiropposite faces, each groove on one face being spaced intermediate of twoadjacent grooves on the opposite face. Supported in these grooves andextending from each post to the next adjacent one, are a plurality ofhorizontal plates 3 of substantially the same width as the post at thepoint where the former is supported, and by reason of the arrangement ofgrooves above referred to, no plate between two adjacent posts would beon the same level as any plate between the next two posts but would beon the same level as the plates in the second row beyond. Each of theseplates is preferably provided with a tongue 4 across each end andextending into the groove to support the plate, and is also providedwith a tongue 5 extending along its longitudinal edge beyond the planeof the front surfaces of the posts. The upper sur face of each plate ispreferably beveled downwardso that it is thicker in the center thanadjacent the edges in order that rain beating thereon will more readilyfall off.

. Attached to the front sides of the posts are a plurality of faceplates 6, extending from the outer edges of each pair of adjacent postsso as to conceal the posts, and of a width substantially one-half thedistance between successive grooves on one surface of the posts. Each ofthese plates is preferably provided with a groove 7 on its back side andextending throughout its length to receive the tongue 5 of thecorresponding horizontal plate, as the upper edge of each of these faceplates is placed at substantially the same level as the upper surface ofthe corresponding horizontal plate. By providing each horizontal platewith a corresponding face plate, the complete structure when built upappears to be made of solid blocks, and the appearance of blocks ofstone maybe created by beveling the front surface of each face plate andpainting and sanding the same.

. The upper ends of theposts are preferably covered by anornamental'rail 8 cut from a single piece of material and having acarved upper surface and downwardly-projecting flanges 9 in engagementwith the upper edges of the top row of face plates. This rail preventsmoisture from reaching the ends of the posts and gives a finishedappearance to the fence. It is evident'that other forms of the samedifferent from that shown, may be constructed. Base boards 10 extendalong the front sides of the posts at their lower ends, as clearlyindicated in the drawings.

Corner posts may be constructed in any suitable manner and havingsurfaces covered with face plate 11, similar to those employed along themain body of the fence, so as to give the posts a more finishedappearance, while the top may be finished off in any suitable manner, asby a top plate 12 and ornamental balls 13.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent:

i 1 A fence, comprising a plurality of posts l having transverse grooveson the two opposite surfaces of each post, grooves on one sur; facebeing spaced intermediately of the grooves on the oppositesurface,horizontal plates of substantially the same width as the postsand having their ends supported in the grooves in the adjacent posts,and face plates connecting each adjacent pair of posts and havingtransverse grooves on the opposite surfaces of each post, the grooves onone surface being substantially the sarne distance apart as the grooveson the opposite surface but arranged alternately therewith, horizontalplates of substantially the same width as the posts and having theirends supported 7 in the grooves of the adjacent posts, the uppersurfaces of said plates being downwardly inclined from the center andthe front edges being provided with tongues, face plates connecting eachadjacent pair of posts and provided with grooves on their back sides adjacent their upper edges adapted to fit the tongues of said horizontalplates, a rail extending along the upper ends of the posts and above theplates, and a base board extending along the lower ends of the rail andbelow the plates.

' 3. A fence, comprising a plurality of posts,

tiers of horizontal plates supported between each adjacent pair ofposts, the plates of each tier being of substantially the same distanceapart but spaced alternately with the plates in the next succeding tier,face plates attached to the front edge of the horizontal plates andextending from one post to the next adjacent post, and a rail extendingalong the upper ends of all of the posts.

4. A fence, comprising a plurality of posts, rows of face platesconnecting each adjacent pair of posts, the face plates of one row beingspaced alternately with the plates of the next adjacent row and thefront surface of each plate being beveled, a rail extending along theupper ends of all of the posts, and a base board extending along thelower ends of all of the posts.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN FORSTER.

WVitnesses:

A. LAWSON, L. Y. CARTER.

